What Are the Symptoms of Menopause?

Menopause, the Big M or ‘the change’... whatever you know it as, there’s no denying that most women or people with vulvas are bound to experience this transition at some point in their lives. While it can be difficult for some people to wrap their heads around the end of their fertile period, it’s also often filled with a whooole bunch of icky symptoms that can make for a pretty lousy experience.

Although you might not be able to make babies anymore, that doesn't mean your sex life has to suffer. So to help you understand what you could be in for when it comes to the change, we're here to dissect the ins and outs of the Big M. From what are the symptoms of menopause to what signals the end of menopause, we’ve got all the bases covered so you know what to expect during this time.

What is menopause?

While most people have heard the term menopause thrown around, do you actually know what it means? Menopause refers to the final period that vulva owners experience. Once a woman or person with a vagina hasn’t experienced a period in 12 consecutive months, they’re what’s known as ‘postmenopausal’.

Most vulva owners experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. However, certain factors, including smoking, reproductive surgeries and chemotherapy, can trigger perimenopause earlier than you’d think.

What are the stages of menopause?

Menopause is broken into three stages: perimenopause, natural menopause and postmenopause. These three phases often come with their own set of different signs and symptoms.

In saying that, you might have also heard the term ‘premenopause’ thrown around too. But what is premenopause? Although premenopause and perimenopause are sometimes used interchangeably, they’re actually two different things. Premenopause refers to all those years you lived and loved before your bod started to go through the change. During premenopause, you don’t experience any of those gnarly perimenopausal symptoms. You still live through shark week, whether it’s regular or irregular, and you’re still in your baby-making prime.

On the other hand, perimenopause refers to the stretch of time leading up to your final period. Many people with vaginas start to experience perimenopausal symptoms four to six years before natural menopause occurs. As your body prepares to say goodbye to Aunty Flo for the final time, your ovaries will start to wrap up business for good. The female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, will start to take a dive which will cause your cycle to go a little askew. During this time, you’ll likely experience irregular periods, from heavy bleeds to an almost non-existent flow. Your ovulation will jump all over the place too, so some months you won’t ovulate at all and the next you might ovulate once or twice. It really is a mixed bag of fluctuating hormones and cycles which can lead to a whole bunch of interesting symptoms, to say the least. And although your reproductive system is shutting up shop, it’s still possible to get pregnant, so make sure you continue to practise safe sex or you could be in for a bit of a shock.

Once you’ve gone through the highs and lows of perimenopause, you’ll eventually find yourself at natural menopause. That’s right, all these years of haywire hormones will culminate in a SINGLE DAY and this day marks 12 consecutive months since the red baron paid you a visit. Chances are the day will probably slip past you without you even knowing, but for some it can be reassuring to know that once you’ve hit menopause your baby-making days are done and dusted. Natural menopause is what signals the end of menopause and the start of postmenopause.

Once you’ve hit the Big, M it’s time to move into the postmenopausal phase of your life. From here you can say goodbye to those crazy menopausal symptoms and hello to period-free living. For most vagina owners, once they move into postmenopause their hormones start to balance out and their symptoms settle down. With that being said, there are an unlucky few who can continue to experience the symptoms of menopause for a decade or so after they’ve gone through the change.

And while you may have made it over the hump of those menopause symptoms, postmenopausal life comes with its own bevy of health concerns that are well worth being across. Osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, mental health conditions and changes in vaginal health are just some of the ailments that you’re at increased risk of in postmenopause. So if you’re not already taking the best possible care of your body, postmenopause is a great time to start showing it a little more TLC.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Vasomer symptoms

Vasomer symptoms (VMS) are possibly the most common menopausal symptoms, and include night sweats, hot flashes and skin flushes. It’s estimated that 75% of people who go through menopause experience VMS, and while most vulva owners experience these symptoms anywhere from six months to two years, some poor souls can suffer from VMS for a decade or longer.

Insomnia

Roughly 40-45% of people going through perimenopause experience insomnia or difficulty with their sleep. Unsurprisingly, people who struggle to get their beauty sleep are also more prone to stress, depression, anxiety and mood swings. There’s nothing quite like a pool of your own sweat interrupting a good night’s sleep.

Vaginal dryness and bladder issues

Sure, waving your crimson tide goodbye for the final time might be a relief for some, but the vaginal dryness that often comes with perimenopause and postmenopause isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. As your oestrogen levels decline throughout perimenopause and into postmenopause, the lining of your tuppence changes, which can cause things to dry up down there. And while we know that plenty of the slick stuff is essential for an enjoyable bang, it’s no wonder that an absence of the slippage can make things uncomfortable and end up affecting people’s libido.

And while we’re on the topic of changes to your lovin’ oven, it’s also not unusual to experience bladder changes too. From incontinence to the constant need to wee, and even reoccurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), there’s no doubt that the Big M sure does a number on your downstairs.

Changes to muscle, bone, hair and body

Not only does menopause meddle with your muffin, but the hormonal changes can also affect the rest of your body too. From aches and pains to dry, itchy skin, you can thank your fluctuating hormones for these random but related symptoms of menopause.

Other signs to keep an eye out for include changing body composition as the body fat from your hips moves to your tummy. You might even notice a few extra kilos when you step on the scale courtesy of the change.

During this time, it’s also not uncommon for your bones to start losing density. While your hair is thinning in some places, you might notice other patches are sprouting in areas you’ve never had hair before. The symptoms of menopause really are a mixed bag.

Mood swings

With all these changes happening to your body and a few nights of interrupted sleep thrown in, it’s no surprise that your mood and mental wellbeing often take a hit too.

From mood swings and mild depression to anxiety and irritability, while psychological factors don’t affect everyone during menopause, those who may have suffered from similar ailments in the past are often more prone to them during this transition.

And if all of those signs weren’t enough, here are a few others to add to the mix:

• Decreased libido

• Dry mouth and eyes

• Stiff joints

• Heart palpitations

• Headaches and migraines

• Brain fog, difficulty concentrating and memory issues

• Sore boobs and less full tatas.

Tips for managing menopausal signs and symptoms

Hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (or HRT) can be an effective treatment option for perimenopausal women. HRT medication contains oestrogen and progesterone, which are the hormones that the body stops producing during menopause. By replacing these hormones, you can often relieve or manage common menopause symptoms, like:

• Hot flashes or flushes

• Night sweats

• Vaginal dryness

• Incontinence

• Aches and pains

• Insomnia

• Mood swings

• Cognitive changes

• Decreased sex drive

• Thinning hair and abnormal hair growth

• Eye irritation

HRT can also help to reduce the risk of other chronic health conditions that postmenopausal people are often prone to, including diabetes, osteoporosis, bowel cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Antidepressants

If you’re suffering from persistent mood swings that are hanging around for over a fortnight, it could be time to visit your GP and discuss antidepressants. Not only are you more likely to feel brighter, lighter and happier, but antidepressants can also help to take the edge off of those vasomotor symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats and skin flushes.

Lifestyle changes

If you’re not so keen on popping pills, you can also manage mild to moderate menopause symptoms naturally by making a few tweaks to your daily life.

1. Keep active

Moving your body every day, even if it’s only for 20 to 30 minutes, can be a great way to manage those pesky menopause symptoms. Staying active during this time is a great way to boost your energy, improve your sleep and help with your mental wellbeing.

2. Eat a balanced diet

Eating a balanced diet is important at all stages of life, but it can also help with managing menopausal symptoms. Choose a wide variety of food and be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

3. Stay cool

When you start feeling a little hot under the collar (and not in a good way), simply doing everything you can to stay cool can help you work through those hot flashes. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing in light fabrics during warm weather. Keep your bedroom cool at night and avoid thick, heavy blankets. And don’t ever doubt the power of a portable fan.

4. Practice meditation and relaxation techniques

When your body’s changing and your mind’s racing, sometimes taking five to calm your thoughts can do a world of good. Why not take this opportunity to practice meditation or sign up for a yoga class? You never know, you might just learn some fun new possies to take from the mat and try in the bedroom…

5. Limit alcohol

Sure, a glass of champers never hurt anyone, but a bottle or two could leave you in a world of pain if you’re suffering from menopausal symptoms. So do yourself a favour and lighten up on the booze if you want to keep those symptoms at bay. Limiting your alcohol intake can also help to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis.

You are not alone

At Lovehoney, we support sexual wellness and happiness at all stages of life, which is why we have a range of products dedicated to women and vulva owners to help make sex after the Big M absolutely mind-blowing.